Fire-escape



(NoMode-l.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. S. LEWIS.

FIRE'ESGAPE.

No. 440,045. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

JNVEJVTOR .Atforney 4 SheetsSheet 2.

J. S. LEWIS.

(No Model.)

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 440,045. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

WITNESSES .dttorney 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. s. LEWIS. FIRE'ESGAPE.

(Nb Model.)

No. 440,045. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

m m I m WITNESSES J (No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. s. LEWIS.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 440,045. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

Wlfl'wyg -I.7V'VE.7VTOR '2 MM H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. LEWIS, OF KIMBALL, VIRGINIA.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,045, dated November4, 1890.

Application filed July 1, 1890. Serial No. 357,365. (NomodeL) [exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon,

which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of my device in sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a plan View. -Fig. 3 is detail view; Figs. 4, 5,(3, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, detail views.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes; and it consists inthe provision of a suitable carriage or truck provided with a turn-tableon. which is mounteda sectional shooting-pole; further, in the provisionof a set of guide and brace ropes, a carrier adapted to move theron, andan operating-rope further,

in the provision of means for operating the said parts, and, finally, inthe general con struction and combination of features, all of which willbe fully described, specifically claimed, and clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings, A represents the truckframe mounted on suitable wheels,and consisting of the side pieces a, axletrees a, cir cular platform B,and fifth-wheel B.

G represents a circular turn-table, which is mounted upon'the circularplatform of the truck and pivotally secured thereto by the bolt orcasting b. The said platform is provided near its outer circumferencewith an annular groove B Which is adapted to receive friction balls orrollers for facilitating the movement of the turn-table. This turn-tableis provided on its periphery with sprocketteeth, which are adapted toengage a sprocket chain c, which passes around the said table, and toand around a small sprocket-wheel G, mounted upon the truck-frame, andprovided with an operating-crank c, by the movement of which the tablemay be turned to the desired point.

D represents the pole, which may be formed in sections, said sectionsbeing connected by a joint (I. The lower end of this pole is pivotallysecured to the turn-table by means of the bolt or casting b,hereinbefore referred to, the upper end of the said bolt or castingbeing provided with a slot b, which is adapted to receive the lower endof the pole D, which is pivotally secured therein by means of the pin 17The lower end of said bolt or casting is firmly keyed or secured beneaththe platform B.

D represents a frame, which is secured at at its lower end to theturn-table O, and adapted to move therewith, and is supported by thebraces (1 This frame D consists of the two uprights D which are securedto 0pposite sides of the turn-table, and connected at their upper endsby cross-piece D Near the upper end of this frame, on a shaft 0 ismounted a sprocket-wheel E, provided with a sprocket-chain E, extendingto and passing over a smaller sprocket-wheel E which is mounted on ashaft e near the lower end of said frame, said shaft being provided withthe cranks 6 A rod or cable F is connected at one end to theWindlass-wheel E and at its opposite end to the intermediate portion ofpole D, as shown. It will be seen that by this means the operation ofthe cranks 6 will raise or lower the pole D.

In the drawings, Fig. 2, the pole is shown as being swung around to oneside of the truck; but when in normal position it is adapted to projectrearwardly therefrom.

G represents a frame through which the pole D passes, said frame beingsecured to the pole. The pole is held or braced by means of the rope II,one end of which is secured to the frame G, passing down around a groovein the lower end of the pole, thence up along the under side of. thepole to its up per end, passing over a pulley attached to said end,thence back along the upper side of the pole to frame G, where it passesaround and is connected to a small crank-wheel G,

mounted on said frame, and by means of which the brace-rope is operated.

I represents the sprocket-carrier rope or chain, one end of which isattached to the carrier J, passing down and over a sprocketwheel J,mounted on the upper end of frame G, thence up along the upper side ofthe pole above rope or brace II, where it passes around a smallsprocket-wheel h, mounted on a crosspiece secured to the pole, andthence back to and attached to the carrier. This rope and the carrierattached thereto, as will be hereinafter described, are operated by asprocketchain, which passes from the wheel J to and around a sprocketcrank-wheel K, which is mounted at the opposite end of the frame Gwithin reach of the ground or from the platform and turn-table.

The carrier J consists of the carriage or body portion In, to which arepivotally secured the four uprights k, on the upper ends of which aremounted grooved friction-rollers Z, which engage the upper part of thebracerope H and ride thereon, the body portion of the carrier beingsuspended beneath the pole. This body portion preferably consists of acage or basket of wire-netting or other suitable non-combustiblematerial. The top portions of the uprights k are connected by the hoodL, to which they are pivotally secured, and to the opposite ends of thishood are connected the ends of the rope I, as hereinbefore described.The pivotal connection of the uprights to the body portion of thecarriage and to the hood will allow the carrier to keep a horizontalposition at any and all degrees of elevation of the pole.

Between the two rear uprights it, near their central portions, andhaving hearings in the same, is a grooved friction-roller m, which isadapted to engage and ride 011 the under side of the lower brace-rope H,thus forming a brace or support for keeping the carrier steady. It willbe seen that the rope or cable I-I acts both as a brace for the pole andas a guide or track for the carrier. The frictionwheels Z are grooved,in order that they may run on the upper side of the pole, thus takingthe strain partially from the guide-rope.

In Fig. 4 the pole D is shown as being disjointed, the lower end of theupper section resting upon the turn-table and supported by passingthrough a slot in the frame G, as show in the said figure.

The truck is provided at each corner with the anchors M, which areadapted to be secured in the ground when the device is in use and serveto hold the truck firmly in position.

These anchors are connected to the truck by -means of ropes or chains N,and a small windlass is provided at each corner for taking up the slackafter the anchors are driven into or secured to the ground.

The operation is as follows: The truck is driven to the desiredposition, the anchors made fast, the sections of the pole jointedtogether, and the ropes and carrier adjusted in position. The turn-tableis then operated to swing the pole to the desired position upon .thebuilding, and is elevated to the desired height by the operation ofcrank e. The

carrier J is then pulled up to the window, where it may be entered bythe person or persons escaping, and the carriage. lowered.

When the truck is in motion, the pole may be swung around corners andclear of obstacles by operating the crank c.

Having thus fully described my invention,

whatI claim as new, and that for which I de-' around the ends of saidpole and serving also as a guide for a carrier or carriage suspendedfrom and adapted to move thereon, substantially as described.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the truck and its platformhaving the circular groove or channel, of the turntable mounted thereonand having a corresponding groove, said table having the peripheralsprocketteeth and carrying the sectional pole and the upright framehaving the poleoperating sprocket-gear mechanism thereon, and thefriction balls or rollers adapted to work in the said grooves orchannels, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a truck having a turn-table mounted thereon, asectional pole pivotally secured to said turn-table, sprocket wheels andgear for operating said table and pole, and a frame mounted on the saidpole, of a rope or cable acting as a brace for the pole and as a guidefor a carrier suspended from and adapted to move thereon, a carrierprovided with friction rollers or wheels for engaging said guides, anoperating-rope connected to said carrier, and crank-Wheel and gear foroperating said carrier mounted on the frame on the said pole,substantially as described.

5. The fire-escape comprising the truck and the anchors therefor, theturn table mounted on the truck, and the sprocket-gear for operating thesame, the sectional pole pivotally secured to the turn-table, thecrossframe mounted on the pole, the rope serving as a brace for saidpole and as a guide for a carrier, the carrier and its operating-rope,and the sprocketgear mechanism mounted on the turn-table for operatingthe pole, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JAMES S. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

, A. J. MASON,

O. T. HOELZMAN.

